Explosive tablet for railway signal torpedoes



APPLICATION FILED OCT-18,1918.

Patented June 2-7, 1922.

Z ..w M m m UNH STATE PTNT FRANK BUTCHER, OF VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR TO CENTRAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,A CORPO- RATION OF NEW JERSEY.

EXPLOSIVE TABLET FOR RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2'7, 1922.

Application filed October 18, 1918. Serial No. 258,712.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DUTCHER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Heretofore the explosives fortorpedoes have been composed largely of chlorate of potassium, in quitelarge percentage of the compound, combined with sulphur, carbon and agritty substance, such as sand. The chlorate of potassium is necessaryin order to make the compound explosive by shock or pressure of thewheels of a locomotive. Chlorate of potassium has become quite expensiveand the object of this invention is to construct the explosive tablet ofa relatively cheap composition, and provide the tablet with a cavity oropening to receive a small quantity of chlorate of potassium andsulphur, which will ignite under pressure or shock and in turn ignitethe composition of which the tablet is formed, thus causing theexplosion of the whole tablet and obtaining a loud report with a muchcheaper composition.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of anexplosive tablet embodying my improvement.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a modification.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 is an explosive tablet and 2 theignition portion or pellet. As here shown this ignition portion orpellet 2 is preferably in the center of the tablet and is preferablyplaced in a cavity 3, formed in the tablet when it is molded. However,the tablet 1 may have an opening 4 entirely therethrough, as shown inFig. 3, and in this instance, the explosive tablet or portion 2 willfill this opening.

I have here shown the tablet of circular form and with a dome-shapedtop. I desire it to be understood, however, that the shape of the tabletis wholly immaterial to my invention, and may be of any desired shape,according to the shape and form of the torpedo case in which the.explosive is to be used. That is to say, the tablet will be made of aform corresponding to the interior shape or form of the torpedo case inwhich it is to be used.

In carrying out my invent-ion, the tablet 1 is preferably composed ofnitrate of potassium about per cent; sulphur about 30 per cent, andcarbon in the form of charcoal or lamp black at 10 per cent. Theseingredients are mixed in a plastic condition and are then molded anddried to the desired form of tablet. The nitrate of potassium is muchcheaper than the chlorate of potassium, but is not a chemical that canbe depended upon to be exploded by pres sure or shock.

After the tablet is formed, with either the cavity 3 or opening 4:, theexplosive compound 2 is placed therein. This explosive is made of aliquid form and is milked into the opening or cavity and permitted todry and harden.

The explosive compound 2 consists essentially of chlorate of potassiumand sulphur, combined with a suitable binder, such as shellac.

The ingredients composing the tablet 1 are inflammable and quick burningso that when the explosive compound or pellet 2 is exploded by pressureor concussion, the inflammable quick burning tablet 1 is instantlyignited and causes substantially a simultaneous explosion with that ofthe compound 2.

Owing to the fact that railway signal torpedoes sell practicall lessthan two cents apiece, leaving a small margin of profit per torpedo, asmall saving in the cost of the torpedo is important, so that areduction in the cost of the explosive tablet is an important factor inenabling the torpedoes to be sold so cheap and at a profit to themanufacturer.

While I have shown, and prefer that the tablet have a pocket to receivethe explosive pellet, I desire it to be understood that the tablet maybe formed without a pocket, and the explosive compound or pellet placedon torpedoes complete' within itself; com-pr'ising a dry tablet composedof a quick burning explosive composition which cannot beeX- plodedby'COnCuSSlOH and havlng-a I8C61V1I1g pocket, and an explosive Withinthe pocket which is 5 reliably ignited by concussion, for 1 the purposedescribed. prising a"body-portion,composed of-a quick Y Allimproyed'tablet for "ra'ilwayf ii torpedoes complete"Withinitself;comprising a 'drytabl'et-corn'po'sed of quick burning ex -plosive-conap'osi'tion Which 'c'ah'notbe 6X- ploded by concussion-andhavingare'ceiving --pocket, and anexplosive in the' pocket-composed ofchlorate" of potassium and sulphur and abinder,*=foi-'tl1'e*purposedes'cribed.

3. A dry tablet fon'railway;signaltor pedoescomplete within'f itself;composedof quick-burning explosivecom osition-which compositionexploded; by concussion placed in the pocket while ina-plastic conditionand permitted to dry therein, for the purpose described.

4. A dry tablet for railway signal torpedoeshaving a body portioncomposed essentially of nitrate of potassium, sulphur andearbonand'having a pocket and a composition Within the pocket composedessentially of chlorate of potassium and sulphur,=jfor the purposedescribed.

5; i-XHBXPlOSiVQ dry tablet for-railway signal 'torpedoes completeWithin itsel-f, COInburning explosive -*'com'position Which I cannot beexploded by 'coneussloniand an explosive 'c'oni'pound -which can bereliably ignited by '--concussion applied to-the'"body' ofthe tablet,for the purpose described. ii ll'rt'estimony whereof-Lhere-untd-afiix my-'si.g'-nature 1n thepresence of two Witnesses.

I FRANK DUTO'HER.

'Witnessesz INEZ T. WALDEN, i *Limu L1 Bummm.

